Brush head for a toilet brush, and a replacement toilet brush comprising said brush head

ABSTRACT

The present invention claims a device in the form of a toilet brush head and the associated toilet brush and replacement toilet brush. The problem of unsightly adhesions to the brush heads of conventional toilet brushes is solved with improvements. This is done using a TPE-V material which is dyed gray to dark gray. This therefore gives a toilet brush which more reliably gives a visually pleasing, clean appearance for a longer period of time.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to brush heads and corresponding toiletbrushes according to the preamble of the independent claims.

Toilet brushes typically have a short stem with a handle and also a headextending transversely to the handle. The relatively thick head, whichextends transversely to the direction of the stem, is provided withbristles or convexities, which can be used to detach adhesions in atoilet, DE 20 2005 011 730 U1 here proposes the use of bristle-freebrush heads in which convex flexible edges are to provide for cleaning.There may be the problem here, however, of the edge abutting over itssurface area, as result of which the contact-pressure force isdistributed uniformly and stubborn adhesions cannot be detached. Againstthis background, the present invention belongs to the field of toiletbrushes and brush heads in which bristles with small-surface-area,single-point bearing properties serve for cleaning purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Brush heads of the type in question comprise a main body with a mountfor a brush stem and with plastic bristles projecting from the mainbody. Toilet brushes of the type in question thus have such a brushhead. The brush head has an essentially bell-like three-dimensionalshape, in the case of which, when the brush is being held verticallydownward, the bristles extend downward as far as a hemispherical toelliptical outer boundary in order then to merge upward into acylindrical to slightly upwardly widening three-dimensional shape.Therefore, when the brush is being held vertically downward, thethree-dimensional shape is similar to an upended bell. The storageholders used here are accommodating containers which are often set up,or fitted, in the vicinity of the toilet and provide a cylindricalhollow shape with a hemispherical base, into which the brush head can beinserted with a slight clamping action. Additional bristle or stemconvexities, as are proposed in DE 200 18 712 U1 or DE 202 02 910 U1,provide here for the additional cleaning of the toilet rim.

DE 1649192 U1 discloses a brush head of the type in question which ismade of rubber and has rubber bristles formed on it. The advantage ofthe rubber head is considerably improved durability, since it is nolonger possible for the bristles to break off or break out of the mainbody. A disadvantage of the bristles, which usually consist of whiteplastic, is that, even if contaminants are carefully rinsed off thebrush head at regular intervals, an unsightly, yellow limescale depositquickly becomes visible on the main body and on the bristles. Inaddition, conventional white plastic bristles tend to fix dirt andresidues in the densely packed clusters of bristles.

The object of the present invention was therefore to eliminate thedisadvantages of the prior art and to provide a brush head which,alongside improved durability, is also able to provide for a visuallyacceptable appearance for a longer period of time.

This object is achieved according to the features of the independentclaims. Advantageous embodiments can be gathered from the dependentclaims and from the description which follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the claimed brush head of a toilet brush ischaracterized in that the bristles are formed from a partiallycrosslinked, thermoplastic polymer based on olefin, preferably a TPE-Vpolymer.

A toilet brush according to the invention has such a brush head and abrush stem, wherein the brush head has an essentially bell-likethree-dimensional shape.

A replacement toilet brush according to the invention has a brush headwith a flushing-rim cleaner and also has a brush stem, wherein.

-   -   a continuous, single-piece TPE-V body has a main body with a        mount, and also has bristles and a flushing-rim cleaner with        individually projecting cleaning bristles,    -   the bristles, projecting individually, have a conically        outwardly tapering three-dimensional shape with a blunt tip,    -   the bristles have a millimeter-range thickness over the entire        bristle length,    -   wherein the cleaning bristles have the same three-dimensional        shape as the bristles,    -   the TPE-V is dyed gray to dark gray,    -   the brush head has an essentially bell-like three-dimensional        shape,    -   the brush stem is fastened in the mount, and    -   the brush stem consists of stainless steel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND OF ADVANTAGEOUS FEATURES

According to the invention, the brush head of a toilet brush, comprisinga main body with a mount for a brush stem and with plastic bristlesprojecting from the main body, is characterized in that the bristles areformed from TPE-V. The inventors assume that the olefin basis of suchpolymers, forming a hydrophobic, wax-like class of compounds, canprovide for an improved level of hydrophobicity in relation to theaqueous and water-soluble contaminants. This might explain why the lowlevel of wettability with residues and/or adhesions was surprisinglygood.

The brush head is preferably characterized in that the bristles,projecting individually, have a conically outwardly taperingthree-dimensional shape with a blunt tip, and in that the bristles havea millimeter-range thickness over the entire bristle length. Tips whichare designed with millimeter thickness and a blunt termination canachieve a high abutment force at particular points, and this makes itpossible to remove even stubborn adhesions to good effect. With tips ofthicknesses beyond 4 millimeters, an effective contact pressure provedto be barely achievable: on the one hand, the bristles were too stiff ina group as a result of the thickness of 4 millimeters and abovethroughout and, on the other hand, they rested on too great a surfacearea on the ceramic surface to be cleaned.

The brush head is preferably characterized in that a continuous,single-piece TPE-V body comprises both the main body and bristles.

The brush head is preferably characterized in that the brush head has aflushing-rim cleaner with individually projecting cleaning bristles.‘Flushing-rim cleaners’ are convexities which allow the cleaningbristles to engage in the underside of a toilet rim. Examples of suchconvexities can be found in the prior art. It is preferably proposedhere for a flushing-rim cleaner in the form of a hook which is openupward in a U-shaped manner in the direction of the handle to be formedlaterally on the main body and to be provided with cleaning bristles.The cleaning bristles preferably have the three-dimensional bristleshape prescribed in claim 2. It is particularly preferred for theflushing-rim cleaner therefore to have its bristles incorporated in theessentially bell-like three-dimensional shape of the brush. Maintainingthis bell-like three-dimensional shape makes it possible for the brushhead to be retained in the conventional mounts of the prior art. Theflushing-rim cleaner, which is open upward in a U-shaped manner,advantageously allows the rim to be cleaned when the brush is orientedvertically. Orienting the brush/the stem vertically reliably avoids thesituation where the toilet rim located opposite could obstruct, or evenrender impossible, the necessary movement of the stem or the cleaning.

The brush head is preferably characterized in that the flushing-rimcleaner is a constituent part of the single-piece TPE-V body. This hasthe advantage, in the case of an interchangeable brush head, ofincreasing the versatility of an existing toilet brush, without a newstem or a new holder having to be bought.

According to the invention, the brush head is characterized in that theTPE-V is dyed gray to dark gray. This has the advantage that, even inthe case of extremely hard water with a high calcium content, nounsightly gray film becomes visible as a result of the then unavoidablelimescale deposit on the surface. Even under the most adverseconditions, this advantageous measure therefore guarantees a pleasingappearance of the brush head. for a long period of time.

According to the invention, the claimed toilet brush has a brush headaccording to the invention, wherein. the brush head has an essentiallybell-like three-dimensional shape. This advantageously allows the toiletbrush to be retained in conventional holders and mounts.

The toilet brush is preferably characterized in that it has a brush stemmade of stainless steel. A stainless-steel stem blends in with virtuallyall domestic sanitary equipment and advantageously ensures a harmoniousappearance of the overall design,

The claimed replacement toilet brush has a brush head with aflushing-rim cleaner and also has a brush stem, wherein

-   -   a continuous, single-piece TPE-V body has a main body with a        mount, and also has bristles and a flushing-rim cleaner with        individually projecting cleaning bristles,    -   the bristles, projecting individually, have a conically        outwardly tapering three-dimensional shape with a blunt tip,    -   the bristles have a millimeter-range thickness over the entire        bristle length,    -   wherein the cleaning bristles have the same three-dimensional        shape as the bristles,    -   the TPE-V is dyed gray to dark gray,    -   the brush head has an essentially bell-like three-dimensional        shape,    -   the brush stem is fastened in the mount, and    -   the brush stem consists of stainless steel.

In the combination of features described above, the replacement toiletbrush is advantageously compatible with the conventional holders,performs the additional function of a flushing-rim cleaner and providesfor a harmonious appearance of the brush head for a considerably longerperiod of time, as a result of which a user will keep the product for alonger period of time.

Further advantages can be gathered from the exemplary embodiments. Ofcourse, the preferred features and advantages described above and theexemplary embodiments which follow should not be interpreted as beinglimiting. Within the context of the independent claims, advantageous orpreferred, additional features and additional combinations of features,as are explained in the description, can be realized in the claimedsubject matter both individually and in different combinations, withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO EXEMPLARYEMBODIMENTS

In an advantageous embodiment, a replacement toilet brush according tothe invention comprises a brush head with a flushing-rim cleaner andalso comprises a brush stem, wherein

-   -   a continuous, single-piece TPE-V body has a main body with a        mount, and also has bristles and a flushing-rim cleaner with        individually projecting cleaning- bristles,    -   the bristles, projecting individually, have a conically        outwardly tapering three-dimensional shape with a blunt tip,    -   the bristles have a millimeter-range thickness over the entire        bristle length,    -   wherein the cleaning bristles have the same three-dimensional        shape as the bristles,    -   the TPE-V is dyed gray to dark gray,    -   the brush head has an essentially bell-like three-dimensional        shape,    -   the brush stem is fastened in the mount, and    -   the brush stem consists of stainless steel.

As it is dyed gray to dark gray—which, from a visual point of view,adjacent to a stainless-steel stem, can give the effect of a blackplastic—this form of brush head exhibits no visually evident limescaledeposits or adhering residues for a considerably longer period of timeand is better accepted by users.

The present invention claims a device in the form of a toilet brush headand the associated toilet brush and replacement toilet brush. Theproblem of unsightly adhesions to the brush heads of conventional toiletbrushes is solved with improvements. This is done using a TPE-V materialwhich is dyed gray to dark gray. This therefore gives a toilet brushwhich more reliably gives a visually pleasing, clean appearance for alonger period of time.

1. A brush head of a toilet brush comprising a main body with a mountfor a brush stem and with plastic bristles projecting from the mainbody, characterized in that the bristles are formed from TPE-V, and inthat the TPE-V is dyed gray to dark gray.
 2. The brush head as claimedin the claim 1, characterized in that the bristles, projectingindividually, have a conically outwardly tapering three-dimensionalshape with a blunt tip, and in that the bristles have a millimeter-rangethickness over the entire bristle length.
 3. The brush head as claimedin claim 1, characterized in that a continuous, single-piece TPE-V bodycomprises both a main body and bristles.
 4. The brush head as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that the brush head has a flushing-rim cleanerwith individually projecting cleaning bristles, preferably with cleaningbristles of the three-dimensional bristle shape as claimed in claim 2.5. The brush head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that theflushing-rim cleaner is a constituent part of the single-piece TPE-Vbody.
 6. A toilet brush having a brush head as claimed in claim 1 andhaving a brush stem, wherein the brush head has an essentially bell-likethree-dimensional shape.
 7. The toilet brush as claimed in claim 1,having a brush stem made of stainless steel.
 8. A replacement toiletbrush having a brush head with a flushing-rim cleaner and having a brushstem, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a continuous,single-piece TPE-V body has a main body with a mount, and also hasbristles and a flushing-rim cleaner with individually projectingcleaning bristles, the bristles, projecting individually, have aconically outwardly tapering three-dimensional shape with a blunt tip,the bristles have a millimeter-range thickness over the entire bristlelength, wherein the cleaning bristles have the same three-dimensionalshape as the bristles, the TPE-V is dyed gray to dark gray, the brushhead has an essentially bell-like three-dimensional shape, the brushstem is fastened in the mount, and the brush stem consists of stainlesssteel.